South Dakota’s use of catheters to forcibly administer drug tests against motorists and others suspected of minor drug crimes has sparked a class action lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is asking US District Judge Roberto A. Lange to order the South Dakota Highway Patrol, local police departments and hospitals to immediately cease their participation in the practice.

“Forced catheterization is painful, humiliating and deeply degrading,” ACLU attorney James D. Leach wrote. “Forced urinary catheterization has only a marginal advantage over a simple blood draw in detecting the prior use of amphetamine or methamphetamine, and its residual presence in the body. Society has a low interest in detecting the prior use of marijuana, and its residual presence in the body.”